Malaysia's Grace Wong breaks 4 records in one hour to win SEA Games gold

Grace Wong (C), Koomphon Mingkamon (L) and Kaewasuksri Sawitree on the podium of the women's hammer throw event at SEA Games 33 on Dec. 12, 2025. Photo by Instagram/@gracewxm2000

Competing at the Suphachalasai Stadium on Friday, Wong produced a masterclass of consistency and power to deliver Malaysia's first athletics gold medal of the Games.

She opened with a throw of 63.34m, immediately smashing her own Games record of 61.87m set at the 2023 edition in Cambodia.

Moments later, she surpassed herself again, launching the hammer 63.83m. This effort not only reset the Games record but also broke her own national record of 63.53m, which she had established at the Malaysia Athletics Championships in Kangar in August.

In the next two throws, Wong fetched 65.09m and 65.41m, marking her fourth Games record and third national record in less than an hour of competition.

Although her final two attempts measured 64.01m and 64.42m, it was more than enough for her to clinch gold. Thailand's Koomphon Mingkamon took silver with 60.74m, while compatriot Kaewasuksri Sawitree claimed bronze with 56.27m.

Speaking to the New Straits Times, Wong, 25, admitted the victory was a surprise given the formidable form of her Thai rival.

"Honestly, I only targeted silver because Mingkamon has been in great form," Wong said. "She was ranked number 1 in the region with throws around 64m. She trained in Japan while I trained in China. During training, I could only manage throws around 60m. Today went beyond expectations."

The victory was particularly sweet given the logistical challenges Wong faced in her preparation. Lacking a full-time coach in Malaysia, she funded her own trip to China to train under renowned coach Gu Yuan.

"I had been training on my own. Before this trip, I even paid out of my own pocket to train under him. I am very grateful for the support," she revealed, noting that winning gold would have been very difficult had she remained in Malaysia.

Coach Gu Yuan noted that the decision to send Wong to China for full-time training earlier in the year was decisive. After just two weeks of training, she broke the national record at the Malaysian Open before peaking in Bangkok.

Currently, Wong ranks 161st in the world and top 8 in Asia. This victory marks Wong's fourth SEA Games gold medal, adding to her titles from 2017 (Malaysia), 2021 (Vietnam) and 2023 (Cambodia).